Music: Last Hope
Genre: Epic
This is my blog after Xanga and Facebook, both of which have been deleted.
Background
The events in Yuen Long on July 21, 2019, occurred amid the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, which began in March 2019 against a proposed extradition bill that would allow suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial. These protests evolved into broader demands for democracy, police accountability, and protection of Hong Kong's autonomy under the "one country, two systems" framework. Tensions were high, with frequent clashes between protesters and police. In the lead-up to July 21, there were warnings in Yuen Long—a district in the New Territories near the border with mainland China—about potential violence. Local villagers and pro-Beijing figures, including Legislative Council member Junius Ho, had publicly urged action against protesters, with some online posts calling for residents to "protect their homeland." Rumors circulated that triad (organized crime) members might target protesters dressed in black, the common attire for demonstrators.
On July 21 itself, a large protest organized by the Civil Human Rights Front took place on Hong Kong Island, drawing around 138,000–430,000 participants marching from Causeway Bay to Sheung Wan. The march started peacefully but escalated into violence near the Chinese government's Liaison Office, where protesters defaced the national emblem, blocked roads, and clashed with police. Police resources were heavily focused on Hong Kong Island, leaving areas like Yuen Long understaffed.
Sequence of Events
In the evening of July 21, 2019, a mob of approximately 100–700 men dressed in white shirts and armed with wooden sticks, metal rods, poles, and rattan canes gathered in Yuen Long. They were suspected by many observers and victims to have ties to triads and local villages. Around 10:00–10:30 pm, the assailants began attacking people on the streets, targeting those in black clothing (associated with protesters returning from the Hong Kong Island demonstration), as well as journalists, bystanders, and commuters. The violence escalated when the mob stormed the Yuen Long MTR (subway) station around 10:45 pm, assaulting people on the concourse, platforms, and inside train carriages. Victims included pro-democracy lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, who was severely injured (requiring 18 stitches), a pregnant woman, and ordinary residents like chef Calvin So. The attacks were indiscriminate, with reports of beatings continuing intermittently until around 3:55 am on July 22.
Despite over 24,000 emergency calls to the 999 hotline starting from around 10:45 pm, police response was delayed. Two officers arrived briefly at 10:52 pm but left, citing being outnumbered and lacking protective gear. A larger group of about 30 officers arrived at 11:20 pm—39 minutes after the initial attacks and shortly after the main mob had dispersed. No immediate arrests were made, even though police encountered some white-shirted men with weapons; in one instance, officers were seen patting an armed man on the shoulder before letting him go. Police stations in the area reportedly closed their gates to citizens seeking help, and some hotline operators advised callers to stay home if they were afraid.
Allegations of Police Inaction and Collusion
The incident sparked widespread allegations of police negligence, inaction, or even collusion with the attackers. Critics, including pro-democracy lawmakers like Eddie Chu and Lam Cheuk-ting, pointed to the delayed response, the lack of arrests on the night, and prior warnings that police relatives had allegedly shared with residents (e.g., advising against wearing black). Videos showed pro-Beijing politician Junius Ho shaking hands with white-shirted men, calling them "heroes" and thanking them for their "hard work," though Ho claimed he was unaware of the attacks at the time and defended the mob as reacting to protester violence. Former Independent Commission Against Corruption investigator Stephen S.N. Char suggested police misconduct, comparing it to past incidents during the 2014 Umbrella Movement.
Police denied collusion, attributing the delay to stretched resources from the Hong Kong Island clashes and claiming they saw no ongoing criminal activity upon arrival. However, investigations by journalists, such as Bao Choy's documentary for RTHK, revealed police presence in Yuen Long earlier in the evening without intervention, leading to her prosecution (later overturned on appeal) for accessing public records. The Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) report in 2020 concluded there was no direct evidence of collusion but acknowledged online calls for violence from both sides, describing the event as a "gang fight" rather than a one-sided attack—a narrative shift criticized as downplaying the mob's role.
Responses from Government and Authorities
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam condemned the violence but refused to label it a "riot," unlike some protester actions. Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung issued an apology for the handling but expressed full support for the police. Pro-Beijing figures portrayed the attacks as a defensive response to protesters "invading" Yuen Long, with some media blaming demonstrators for provocation. Internationally, the U.S. condemned the "orchestrated violence," the UK monitored the probe closely, and countries like Japan and South Korea issued travel warnings. Pro-democracy groups called it "terrorism," comparing it to state-sanctioned violence.
Aftermath
At least 45 people were injured, some seriously, with no fatalities reported. Initial arrests were minimal, but by 2021, seven attackers were sentenced to 3.5–7 years in prison for rioting and wounding—the first convictions related to the incident. Paradoxically, some victims, including Lam Cheuk-ting, were later arrested and charged with rioting, accused of escalating the situation. A district council task force investigated but faced obstructions, especially after the 2020 national security law stifled dissent. The event eroded public trust in police, fueled further protests (e.g., a march in Yuen Long on July 27 leading to more clashes), and became a symbol of alleged government-triad ties to suppress the movement. As of 2025, victims and activists continue to seek full accountability, though official narratives have evolved to frame it as mutual violence rather than a targeted mob attack.
Though diligence may forge success's chain,
It crafts no key to wisdom's hidden domain.
Yet cleverness, with cunning's spark divine,
Claims victory swift—and greater still, when toil aligns.
Original:
a hardworking man may be successful but he will never become clever.
a clever man may be successful and he can be even more successful with hardworking.
Vocabulary:
diligence (n) - careful and persistent work or effort
forge (v) - to make or produce something, especially with some difficulty
cunning (adj) - the quality or skill of being clever at planning something so you get what you want
divine (adj) - connected with a god, or like a god
swift (adj) - happening or moving quickly or within a short time, especially in a smooth and easy way
toil (n) - hard work, especially work that makes you feel physically tired
align (v) - to put two or more things into parallel.
Animation: うた∽かた 詩片 (2004)
Music: 初恋 (First Love)
Genre: Soft
The term ("養 nurture, 套 trap, 殺 kill") suggests a three-stage process where China
1. initially encourages foreign investment (nurture), then 2. imposes conditions that limit or control the company's operations (trap), and finally 3. squeezes them out or reduces their market share to favor domestic firms (kill). Below is an analysis based on available information and the broader context of China's economic policies:
"養 nurture, 套 trap, 殺 kill" reflects a pattern some foreign companies experience in China, driven by policies that prioritize domestic industry growth. While not an explicit government strategy, it aligns with observed trends in China's industrial policies and market dynamics. Foreign firms should conduct thorough due diligence, assess sector-specific risks, and weigh the benefits of China's market against potential long-term challenges.
Taken by Neil Armstrong on June 20th, 1969, A Man on the Moon showcases astronaut Buzz Aldrin as he takes some of his first steps across the moon’s surface.
Equipped with a 70mm lunar surface camera, Armstrong set out to document Apollo 11’s expedition through a series of photos detailing the crew-of-two’s first steps, and the placement of the American flag.
Immortalized from all of those photos is A Man on the Moon. In it, Aldrin stands alone with nothing but the vast expanse of the moon as his backdrop. With not a modicum of humanity surrounding him, Aldrin is swallowed by the great unknown of space, capitalizing on the feelings of loneliness and curiosity that, even today, drive us to find life beyond the fringes of earth. His singular presence in the photo also punctuates the whole point of the expedition: a man landed on the moon.
The news about a proposed "bad-debt bank" in Hong Kong originated from reports published by reputable financial news outlets on July 17, 2025. Specifically, sources like The Business Times, The Straits Times, Bloomberg, and The Edge Malaysia reported that some of Hong Kong’s major banks, including Hang Seng Bank and Bank of Communications, were in early-stage discussions with advisory firms about setting up a special vehicle to manage non-performing loans (NPLs). These discussions were spurred by a significant increase in soured loans, estimated at US$25 billion to US$32 billion, primarily tied to the struggling real estate sector, and specific cases like New World Development’s refinancing. The proposed entity was reportedly modeled after China’s distressed asset managers, aiming to help banks offload bad debts and recoup a portion of the loans. The reports cited sources familiar with the matter, who spoke anonymously due to the private nature of the discussions, and noted that the talks were preliminary with no clear indication of traction among banks or regulators
These articles highlighted the growing concern over Hong Kong’s non-performing loans, which reached a two-decade high of 2% of total loans by March 2025, according to Fitch Ratings estimates based on Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) figures. The real estate sector’s challenges, including a surge in office vacancies and a more than 50% drop in commercial property valuations, were cited as key drivers behind the discussions. The reports also mentioned a recent US$11 billion refinancing deal for New World Development as an example of efforts to avert deeper financial crises in the sector.
The claim that Hong Kong banks were discussing the creation of a "bad-debt bank" does not appear to be fake news, as it was reported by multiple credible sources with consistent details. However, on the same day as these reports (July 17, 2025), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued statements denying any intention to set up a "bad bank" and affirmed that Hong Kong banks maintained healthy balance sheets. These statements were shared via posts on X by accounts such as @FirstSquawk, @LiveSquawk, @RedboxWire, @iNewsroom, and @MarketNews_Feed, emphasizing the HKMA’s position that no such plan was in place and that the banking sector’s asset quality was manageable.
The HKMA’s denial suggests that while discussions among banks may have occurred, as reported, there was no official or regulatory endorsement of the "bad bank" proposal. The HKMA further stated that banks’ provisions were sufficient and that the banking sector’s capital ratio (24.2% as of March 2025) and liquidity coverage ratio (182.5% for major banks) were well above international standards, indicating financial stability
A "bad debt bank," often referred to as an asset management company (AMC) or distressed asset vehicle, is a financial institution or special-purpose entity created to acquire, manage, and dispose of non-performing loans (NPLs) and other distressed assets from banks or financial institutions. The primary goal is to clean up the balance sheets of banks, allowing them to focus on core lending activities while mitigating systemic risks to the financial system. Here’s how it typically works:
One of the most iconic photos of World War II, Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Island by photographer Joe Rosenthal has been engrained nationwide into the minds of Americans as a symbol of victory and patriotism.
In the photo, Rosenthal snaps six American marines raising the U.S. flag on top of Mount Suribachi to mark its capture. The flag in question served as the commander-ordered replacement to a much smaller flag, and was hoisted up in order to inspire the troops present for the capture.
Rosenthal’s photo was published a mere two days after its capture, and immediately skyrocketed to fame. It became so famous, and so positively regarded, that Rosenthal eventually won a Pulitzer Prize in Photography for it.
Today the photograph continues to represent America’s role in World War II, and perseveres in inspiring feelings of victory and unity.
On June 4, 1989, the Beijing protests in Tiananmen Square, initially driven by students demanding democratic reforms, were violently suppressed by Chinese authorities, resulting in significant loss of life. The following day, an iconic moment emerged when a lone protester, known as "Tank Man," stood defiantly in front of a column of advancing tanks on Chang’an Avenue. Carrying shopping bags, this unidentified man repeatedly moved to block the tanks’ path, symbolizing individual courage against overwhelming state power. His identity and fate remain unknown, but his image became a global symbol of resistance.
The most powerful images of war focus, not on the battlefield itself, but on the civilians affected by conflict. Perhaps the most well-known image of this is Nick Ut’s 1972 photograph The Terror of War. In it, Ut documents a group of people running away from a napalm strike. In the centre, a naked 9-year-old girl stands screaming from the pain of the burns. This image was incredibly shocking, a young girl, who had no relation to the conflict, was being murdered by it. More shocking, was that Ut’s photograph was documenting an event caused by the US. It struck and confronted North American audiences, causing many to rethink their perceptions of the United States foreign policy, and highlighting the extremes of the catastrophe at hand. This photo sparked the anti-war in the US and led the withdrawal in the Vietnamese War.
Independent Production: Two Steps from Hell
Music: Until the Lights Go Out
Genre: Soft
開始了造假就不能不造下去,直到爆破。
對中國(或蘇聯共產)歷史有了解,都知道體制內是高層定指標,最可惡是給最高層的資訊往往不是真實的,或不敢給真實的。最高層在錯誤的資訊下訂出錯誤的指標,下層愈是達不到愈是造假。
蘇聯1932年至1933年烏克蘭大饑荒普遍認為是由於蘇聯政府實施的農業集體化政策,以及對糧食的強制徵收和出口,導致烏克蘭農民生活困苦,糧食短缺。新中國成立後1958-1962大躍進、人民公社化(農業集體化)、制度缺陷、政策錯誤餓死1600萬-5500萬人。
我帶出以上的歷史是因為政府領導的集體造假,頂層的生活是不會被到影響的,而他所接收的資訊又是假的所以做出錯誤的決定。制度上的不建全是人民的災難!
中共中央政治局召开会议
审议《党中央决策议事协调机构工作条例》
中共中央总书记习近平主持会议
新华社北京6月30日电 中共中央政治局6月30日召开会议,审议《党中央决策议事协调机构工作条例》。中共中央总书记习近平主持会议。
会议指出,设立党中央决策议事协调机构,是健全党中央对重大工作集中统一领导、推动重大任务落实的重要制度安排。制定出台《党中央决策议事协调机构工作条例》,进一步规范党中央决策议事协调机构的设立、职责和运行,对于发挥好对重大工作的顶层设计、统筹协调、整体推进、督促落实职能作用,具有重要意义。
会议强调,党中央决策议事协调机构要准确把握职责定位,坚持谋大事、议大事、抓大事,对重大工作实施更为有效的统领和协调,做到统筹不代替、到位不越位。要深入调查研究,提升决策议事质效,提出切合实际、行之有效的政策举措。要力戒形式主义、官僚主义,工作务求实效。
会议还研究了其他事项。